Islanders captain Doug Weight will not return this season and is leaning toward retirement. Weight has not played a game since Nov. 17 because of nerve damage in his back and muscle atrophy in his left leg. The 40-year-old was playing in his 20th NHL season and his third with the Islanders. He has 278 goals and 1,033 points in 1,238 career games.

Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi was called for a 5-minute elbowing penalty and a game misconduct against the Blackhawks on Monday night. Bertuzzi hit Chicago forward Ryan Johnson in the head 5:17 into the game. Johnson went down to his knees and gloves for a while before slowly getting up. He went off the ice and toward the dressing room, but played later in the first period. Bertuzzi was ejected for a check that might've gone unpunished before the NHL started to crack down on such high hits.

Blues forward T.J. Oshie was a surprise no-show for practice and the team called it an unexcused absence, according to an Associated Press report. Coach Davis Payne said after Monday’s practice that he’d speak with GM Doug Armstrong regarding proper disciplinary action.

The NHL's original plan to have six of its teams open the regular season overseas next season has been downsized to four, sources told ESPN.com on Saturday. The Oilers and Capitals, part of the original six teams asked to participate, are no longer in the mix for the Premiere Games, the sources said. The Rangers, Kings, Ducks and Sabres remain slated to open next season in Europe.

The Bruins defeated the Flyers 2-1 on Sunday to clinch a playoff berth. Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia had been unbeaten in regulation in their previous nine games. They are two points ahead of Washington and Pittsburgh for the top spot. The two teams could be headed for a playoff rematch. Last spring, the Flyers become the third NHL team in history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit when they beat the Bruins to advance to the conference finals. "It's going to be very interesting," Boston's Brad Marchand said. "Every game determines who we're going to play. It's going to be exciting watching every game because it could determine the outcome of where we're at in the playoffs."

The Canucks beat the Blue Jackets 4-1 on Sunday to reach the 50-win mark for the first time in franchise history. Vancouver backup goalie Cory Schneider made 39 saves to improve to 15-3-2 and help the NHL-leading Canucks add to their franchise-best points total (109) and run their road winning streak to eight, matching the club record set in early 2004. "Teams are obviously getting themselves prepared for us," coach Alain Vigneault said. "I thought Columbus, tonight, played real strong. At the end of the night, our goaltender was better than their goaltender and we won the game."

Washington sent Montreal to their third straight shutout loss with a 2-0 victory Saturday night. The Capitals have won 14 of 17 and are second overall in the Eastern Conference with 98 points, two behind Philadelphia. "I think for most of them now it's fun to win by not allowing the other team to score, whereas last year it was fun to win because we scored six goals," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. "If we'd get up 5-1, it would end up 6-4, and they weren't upset about it, but now they get upset when they get scored on so it's a big difference."

Ryan Miller notched his fifth shutout as Buffalo dealt a serious blow to New Jersey's playoff hopes. The Sabres topped the Devils 2-0 on Saturday, all but dashing the team's chances of making the playoffs for a 14th straight season. In winning their third straight and improving to 4-0-1 in their past five, eighth-place Buffalo moved five points up on Carolina and crept within two points of Montreal and the Rangers.

One day after saying the Canadiens "embellished" the extent of Max Pacioretty's injuries, Bruins veteran Mark Recchi clarified his comments following a Boston victory over Montreal on Thursday night, according to an ESPN.com report. Recchi said he wasn't trying to take a cheap shot at Pacioretty, who suffered a concussion and fractured vertebra March 8 when Zdeno Chara delivered a check that sent Pacioretty head-first into a stanchion at Montreal's Bell Centre. Recchi said he was taking one for his teammate Chara in an effort to deflect what the Bruins feel has been unwarranted criticism of their captain.

Rangers defenseman Marc Staal will return to the lineup Thursday against the Senators after missing the past two games with an undisclosed injury. Staal told reporters the news following the team's morning practice, according to an ESPN.com report.